Clausewitz: On War

SEMINAR FOXTROT Group 2

LTC RUFFY PALTC CABANALAN PA

LTC MAGALLANES PACDR DE SAGON PN

LTC LIMET PALTC MERCADO PALTC GRAYDA PAF

i. In your analysis, what important features of war were not discussed by Clausewitz?

Among the important features of war not discussed by Clausewitz were the ff:

- Naval and Air Warfare because all his works concentrated on land warfare

- The limited role of technology in warfare (Revolution in Military Arms)

i. In your analysis, what important features of war were not discussed by Clausewitz?

Among the important features of war not discussed by Clausewitz were the ff:

- Ideology in warfare (i.e. religious extremism, fascism) that does not put restrictions in targeting civilians in pursuit of political/religious objectives such as genocide and terrorism

J. Is there a Clausewitzian influence on modern civilian military leadership’s decision-making and views of war?

Clausewitzian influence on US: Weinberger Doctrine 1984

1. The United States should not commit forces to combat unless the vital national interests of the United States or its allies are involved.

2. U.S. troops should only be committed wholeheartedly and with the clear intention of winning. Otherwise, troops should not be committed.

Weinberger Doctrine 1984

3. U.S. combat troops should be committed only with clearly defined political and military objectives and with the capacity to accomplish those objectives.

4. The relationship between the objectives and the size and composition of the forces committed should be continually reassessed and adjusted if necessary.

5. U.S. troops should not be committed to battle without a "reasonable assurance" of the support of U.S. public opinion and Congress.

6. The commitment of U.S. troops should be considered only as a last resort.

Clausewitzian Concepts on “War on Terror”

1. “War is more than a true chameleon that slightly adapts to the given case.”

2. “War is an act of force to compel the enemy to do our will”

3. “hostile feelings and hostile intentions” “render the enemy powerless”

Clausewitzian Concepts on “War on Terror”

4. - objective of war is “either total destruction of the enemy or the ability to dictate peace

terms to him”

5. Use of term “WAR”- disarm the enemy; maximum exertion

of strength - Moral Factors – temper of population

6. Trinity - natural force; chance and probability; element of subordination

Clausewitzian Concept:

“It follows from all this that a strategic attack with a limited objective is burdened with the defense of other points that the attack itself will not directly cover––far more burdened than it would be if aimed at the heart of the enemy’s power.”

Influence: “Baghdad, Iraq; National Guard”

REFERENCES:

Oldemeinen; 2012, Is Clausewitzian Thought Really Timeless As Some Have Claimed? Discuss with Reference to the War on Terror. http:// www.e-ir.info/2012/01/24/is-clausewitzian- thought-really-timeless-as-some-have-claimed- discuss-with-reference-to-the-war-on-terror/Carl von Clausewitz, On War, trans. and ed. Michael Howard and Peter Paret (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007) Mayor Colin F. Mayo, USMC, The Weinberger Doctrine In The Post-Cold War Era

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1992/MCF.htm

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